Eighth-Inning Rally Spoiled in Bears' 6-5 Loss to The Citadel

Charleston, SC -
It looked like the Brown baseball team (5-10) would come up with a late-inning win for the second day in a row on Wednesday. The Bears scored three runs in the top of the eighth to tie the game at five, and after The Citadel (17-8) retook the lead in the bottom of the eighth, were able to load the bases with one out. However, the Bulldogs were able to get two strikeouts to end the game, taking a 6-5 win.

Over the course of the three hour and 47 minute contest, the teams used 13 pitchers and 10 bench players combined. Sophomore center fielder Steve Daniels (Fox Point, WI) led all players with three hits and two doubles, also swiping his 12th stolen base of the year and tying the game in the eighth with a two-RBI double. Senior second baseman Bryan Tews (Park Ridge, IL) went 2-for-3 with two walks. Junior Peter Moskal (Glastonbury, CT) had the best outing of Brown's six pitchers, throwing three innings of scoreless relief, allowing two hits and walking four while striking out one. Freshman Will Weidig (Katy, TX) also pulled off a rare feat in his inning of relief, striking out four batters.

The Bulldogs jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the first, when designated hitter Matt Reifsnider ripped a three-run home run to left field off of freshman starter Matt Boylan (Danvers, MA). After The Citadel put runners on second and third with two out in the bottom of the second, Brown Head Coach Marek Drabinski brought in Moskal, who induced a ground out to end the threat.

The Bears got two runs back in the fifth. A throwing error on an attempted double play brought the first run in, then junior Jeff Dietz (Altamonte Springs, FL) singled to bring home the second run.

In the sixth, the Bulldogs loaded the bases on senior Anthony Vita (West Babylon, NY), who gave way to Weidig. The freshman struck out the first batter he faced, but the third strike was a wild pitch, allowing the batter and all runners to advance. A walk brought in another run before Weidig picked up a strikeout to end the inning.

In the eighth, the Bears tied the game. Sophomore shortstop Matt Nuzzo (Everett, MA) led off with a single, which Tews followed with a walk. Sophomore third baseman Robert Papenhause (Hillsborough, CA) loaded the bases with a single to left for junior Ryan Murphy (Mantoloking, NJ). Murphy responded with a single of his own, bringing one run in. After a failed attempt at a suicide squeeze and a strikeout, Daniels stepped to the plate and doubled down the right field line, bringing in Papenhause and Murphy for the fourth and fifth runs.

The Bulldogs got a run in the bottom of the eighth to retake the lead, but the Bears again rallied. After a strikeout, Dietz walked and senior pitcher James Cramphin (Simsbury, CT) came on to pinch run. Nuzzo singled and Tews walked again to load the bases. The Citadel then played match-ups, bringing in new pitchers for the next two batters and getting two strikeouts to end the game.

On Thursday, Brown will finish its swing through South Carolina, playing Division II Francis Marion University. The Patriots are currently ranked 29th in Division II, and are 22-13 on the year. After a day off on Friday, the Bears will open the Ivy League season at Princeton and Cornell on Saturday and Sunday, respectively.